Synopsis On 21September 1994, the tanker MIMI, carrying 24,320 metric tonnes of miscellaneous petroleum products, was en route from Porvoo, Finland, to Montreal, Quebec, with a pilot on board. Because of her draught, the vessel had to anchor off Tracy, Quebec, to wait for a berth in Montreal. At about 0323EDT, the MIMI manoeuvred at reduced speed for the approach to the Lanoraie, Quebec, anchorage. When the vessel was in position, the anchor was dropped and the lever of the engine telegraph was placed on astern to stop the vessel. However, the main engine engaged on ahead, and before the crew realized what was happening, the vessel gained speed and ran aground on the south-east bank. No injuries, damage or pollution were reported as a result of this occurrence. Factual Information Port of Registry Grimstad, Norway Propulsion One BW 7,943kW engine driving a fixed-pitch propeller. Manoeuvring speed orders are transmitted from the bridge to the control room in the engine-room by engine telegraph. A mechanism automatically synchronizes the direction on the engine telegraph in the control room with the direction of rotation of the main engine. To start the main engine and give it the necessary speed during a manoeuvre, the control console in the control room is equipped with another lever located parallel to the engine telegraph. There is only one such lever, and it can be activated only by the engine-room personnel. However, control of the main engine can be transferred from the control room to the bridge console. The bridge personnel acknowledge this transfer by pressing a single button on the console. In this case, the bridge personnel chose to have the engine-room personnel control the main engine while the vessel was in confined waters. When the full astern order was given, before the vessel ran aground, the lever of the engine telegraph in the engine-room was in the full astern position. The main engine was placed into reverse and the engine revolutions were increased using the throttle. Shortly afterward, it was noticed that the main engine was not turning in the right direction; the vessel's speed could not be reduced in time to stop the vessel, and she ran aground. From the computer listing of the data recorder, it was possible to confirm that the main engine was turning in the ahead direction and that the throttle was set for reverse. However, the tachometer indicated that the main engine was turning in the ahead direction whereas the indicator light of the main engine rotation direction selector indicated astern.